When asked to describe the music of Italy, what comes to mind?
For many, it might be the grand voices of opera singers. Others might think of bouncy tunes like “The Tarantella.”
But the truest sound might be the little known folk music that originated in the small towns and farms of rural Italy.
Italian folk music is humble, warm and full of life, but its popularity has sharply faded over the past century.
Fortunately, a Cleveland-based ensemble has arrived to preserve the art form, if not spark a resurgence in appreciation.
Alla Boara – which translates as “to the work,” an Italian idiom that references its roots in field labor – was formed several years ago by Anthony Taddeo of Cleveland. The act will make its first Youngstown appearance Friday night at a dinner show at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church social hall. The performance, sponsored by Youngstown State University, is sold out.
Taddeo, who earned his master’s degree in music from YSU, is a jazz drummer and percussionist in Cleveland. He also teaches music at Cuyahoga Community College, where he oversees a music festival, and gives private lessons.
Discovering the folk music of Italy was a revelation to Taddeo, and it inspired him to start Alla Boara.
Taddeo grew up in Cleveland, but his family later moved to New York City where he studied jazz at The New School. His father is from Italy, and the family moved to that country for a few years before returning to Cleveland.
All of those factors laid the groundwork for Alla Boara, but the fuse was lit when Taddeo came across field recordings of Italian folk music recorded in the 1950s by famed ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax.
“He did incredible recordings in little towns,” Taddeo said. “When I found them, I couldn’t believe how incredibly diverse the music was. I grew up with a sense of Italian folk music, but when I heard these, it opened my mind to the incredible palette it offers. I thought, ‘What can I do to get other people hip to it, so they know that there’s more to [Italian folk music] than ‘The Tarantella’?”
Alla Boara puts its own spin on the folk tunes, adding a touch of modernity to old songs that in some cases were in danger of being lost forever.
The songs began to fall out of use after the industrialization of Europe, and the process was hastened by the Italian diaspora of millions of people between 1870 and 1970, according to Taddeo.
New Album
Alla Boara has already released two albums, including its latest, “Work & Song,” which came out this week. A third album is due later this year.
The new release was recorded at The Bop Stop jazz club in Cleveland and can be purchased through all retail music sites and at AllaBoara.com. Videos can be viewed on the website and YouTube.
Alla Boara maintains an active touring schedule, playing several shows a month. It has already performed in nine states and Canada.
In addition to Taddeo, the ensemble includes vocalist Amanda Powell, guitarist Dan Bruce, bassist Ian Kinnaman, trumpeter Tommy Lehman and accordionist Mark McKelly.
Clay Colley of Warren was formerly a member of the act, playing accordion.
Taddeo had worked with Powell in the Cleveland-based baroque ensemble Apollo’s Fire. The classically trained Powell is an opera singer who is equally at home with classical, baroque and jazz.
Taddeo performs with many jazz acts and also works as a studio musician. But his work with Alla Boara has been especially meaningful to him.
“It’s been fulfilling to dig into my heritage,” he said. “This has been the first time that I’ve felt connected to my culture in a musical way.”
Keeping the music of rural Italy relevant fuels Taddeo. But the spark for Alla Boara was ignited at YSU.
Taddeo studied with Dana School of Music professor Dave Morgan while obtaining his master’s degree in composition.
“When [Morgan] heard the first couple of songs, he encouraged me to dig deeper,” Taddeo said. “He is responsible for speaking this into existence.”
Pictured at top: Alla Boara will play at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Friday. Anthony Taddeo, seated at right, is the founder of the ensemble.